Will Ethics Probe Take Down any Lawmakers?

Confidential Report Exposes Dozens of Politicians Under Review but Ethics Watchdog Says "What Usually Happens is Nothing"

(CBS)  It was an embarrassing breach from one of the most secretive committees on Capitol Hill: A House ethics staffer posted a confidential report where the public could access it, reports CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson.

"I regret to report that there was a cyber-hacking incident of a confidential document of the committee," said Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., the chair of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.

Revealed in the document: names of more than two dozen lawmakers who at the time of the report in July were under some sort of ethics review.

That includes two Congressmen who've been the subject of CBS News investigations: Charles Rangel, who is being looked at for a half dozen alleged lapses including tax problems, and John Murtha.

Murtha is among seven lawmakers under review for allegedly trading earmarks for campaign contributions.

The confidential document has been removed from public view, but the Washington Post obtained a copy.

Post: Dozens Under House Ethics Investigations
Post: 7 Reps. On Same Panel Under Scrutiny

"Many of the cases if you will are sort of known or the broad outlines are known, but the specific status with the ethics committee is brand new," said the Post's Carol Leonnig.

Other names on the list: Jane Harman who allegedly tried to trade favors to get a leadership position in the House; Alan Mollohan for allegedly using his office for personal profit; Maxine Waters whose husband owns stock in a bank she allegedly helped to get bailout funds; and Laura Richardson who may have filed improper financial disclosures.

Murtha, Visclosky, Young and Moran had no comment. The others have denied wrongdoing.

Democrats say the lengthy list shows they're serious about "draining the swamp" in Washington. But ethics watchdog Melanie Sloan says don't get too excited.

"While we may have learned that a lot of members are under investigation, what usually happens is nothing," Sloan said.

Ethics officials did point out that all of the named members could eventually be cleared of wrongdoing. No such delayed judgment for the unnamed ethics staffer who posted the document: she's been fired.

[stuart-johns2]

Will Ethics Probe Take Down any Lawmakers?

Not likely...unless there's money to be made.

[Biggest_Rick]

Being unethical is OK if you are a democrat because your "heart" is in the right place. Too bad the left won't police itself.

[stn_sage]

IF the evidence is substantial, if the politician is not well liked by his peers, and if it's politically expedient...one or two of them might be chose as 'sacrificial goats' and be 'given up' to the public to keep the myth of 'justice in American courts' alive...in the minds of the ignorant!

[lightningF]

Crooks investigating crooks,you must be kidding,when they did not find anything wrong with what Dodd and Nation Wide did together,you knew the Ethics committe was corrupt. Rangel has donated to their re-election campaign and you expect a fair outcome of findings,when Rangel keeps saying he overlooked or forgot $250,000.00 in a checking account?

[ToolMangler1]

No ethics or criminal probe will ever succeed because some connected party will leak it to the "MEDIA" who will immediatly publish it and warn all concerned that they are being investigated.
During WWII such an act could result in arrest and trial for disclosing sensitive information. Back then the Media watched what they said. They weren't muzzeled but they didn't have "Diarrhea of the mouth (printed page)" like they do now.

[whosaid1]

Will Ethics Probe Take Down any Lawmakers? Only if they are Republicans...all you "smart" people out there,should know that !!!

[natdef_1]

If they won't even pull Charlie Rangel off his chair, don't expect much from these corrupt charlatans running Congress.

[babooph]

I thought politics was so you could be crooked & get away with it-like Rush having the "weight" for a "mandatory" 30 years in prison & not spending 1 day in prison?

[gboyd41]

babooph-is Rush an elected official? So what is your statement?

[gboyd41]

I would bet that there are no sanctions. So much for the transparent Obama administration. But just wait for the next elections!

[g55rumpy]

betcha only if they are Republican

[chonder2]

Forget the **** ants.Investigate the players and the intel trail that lead to the Iraq invasion.From President Cheney to whatever rock that piece of crap Aqmed Chalabee is hiding under!!

[natdef_1]

I recommend we investigate the criminal origins that led to your birth.

[stuart-johns2]

Of course nothing will ever be done? The Obama administration promised transparency. It never promised convictions of political figures who broke or break the law.

By the way, I wonder how Holder is doing on the Cheney affair? See what I mean? Ah...but you guys all know the deal.

[kaabeee]

"The Obama administration promised transparency." - - - - and we will never even get any transparency from obama. If there were transparency, this information wouldn't have needed to be "leaked". If there were transparency, we would know what's going on in the back rooms regarding the ramrodding of obama-care. etc etc etc Most politicians are scum and those in control now have taken scumminess to the next level. Gotta love Holder as well - asking for and getting pardons from Clinton, for terrorists. * * * scum.